Unless the West can put a real pressure on President Poroshenko and stop rewarding him with trade deals, subsides, money, association agreements, than the real disaster is inevitable, political writer John Wight told RT.

RT:Russia's
President Putin said the ceasefire was the last avenue to peace
for Ukraine. Do you think there's no chance for a peaceful end
now?

John Wight: The first thing that has to be
acknowledged in the light of these events is the remarkable
restraint shown by the Russian government in the face of the
humanitarian crisis over its western border. And this seems even
more remarkable when you consider that Russia possesses the
wherewithal and the ability to crush Ukrainian military forces
being deployed against its own citizens, if it so wished within a
matter of days. But the reality is that Poroshenko, the
billionaire oligarch, who is the President of the regime in Kiev
is a reckless adventurer, he must ask himself what kind of
backing the West is giving this man. As he must know that he is
facing disaster if he continues on this course, he has just
signed the Association Agreement with the EU. And this is what
the EU has become - an organization that accepts into its ranks,
embraces a government that is bathed in the blood of its own
citizens.

RT:France and Germany, when speaking to
Presidents Putin and Poroshenko, supported the ceasefire. How
will they react now?

JW: At this point it is clear that the
responsibility for the escalation of violence lies with Kiev and
with Washington which is allowing this to continue. Let us be
clear, when we say 'the West' we mean Washington - Washington
holds a trump card when it comes to Mr. Poroshenko and his
actions. So it would be very hard for any Western government to
accept what is going on as a matter of Kiev trying to clamp down
on terrorist activities in the East. In Eastern Ukraine people
have risen up against what they consider to be an illegitimate
government which replaced their last democratically elected
government in Ukraine which was led by Mr Yanukovich which was
pulled in February by an armed mob. Unless the West can put real
pressure on Mr. Poroshenko and stop rewarding him with trade
deals, subsides, money, association agreements, than really we
are looking at a disaster. It is inevitable I am afraid.

RT:Most of Moscow's proposals on
de-escalation have been rejected by Kiev, but the US still says
Moscow must do more to help ease the situation. What could they
possibly want Russia to do?

JW: What they want Russia to do is what they
want every nation in the world to do. They want Russia to bend
their knee to the writ from Washington. The problem we have is
despite Mr. Putin’s reasoned and statesman-like address,
Washington cannot conceive of any relationship in the world with
anyone, other than on the terms of their domination. What Mr.
Putin is asking for is a change in mindset, which holds true to
domination and hegemony rather than cooperation, respect,
partnership and sovereignty. Until that mindset changes I am
afraid Mr. Putin is whistling in the wind.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.